Welcome to the South Texas Space Science Institute!
We are an interdisciplinary space science institute that spans multiple departments within UTRGV, including The Department of Physics and Astronomy, The School of Integrative Biological and Chemical Sciences, and The School of Earth, Environmental, and Marine Sciences. We encompass two internationally recognized research centers - the Center for Gravitational Wave Astronomy (CGWA) and the Center for Advance Radio Astronomy (CARA). Notably, in 2015, several faculty and staff from these research centers were involved in the Nobel-prize-winning detection of gravitational waves.
As UTRGV has expanded, the focus of CGWA and CARA has broadened beyond physics / astrophysics to include observational astronomy, astrobiology, and planetary sciences. Together with members of CGWA and CARA, researchers in these other areas have now become an integral part of the interdisciplinary South Texas Space Science Institute.
Our commitment extends to forging connections within the wider space science community and with institutional and regional partners. These partnerships facilitate the exchange of ideas and practical knowledge, equipping our students with the skills necessary for success in STEM-related fields. We are actively developing innovative Master's and PhD programs focusing on the space sciences to ensure our graduates are competitive in the rapidly growing space industry.
Through workshops, research-focused visitors' programs, and public outreach events held here in the Rio Grande Valley, STSSI and our dedicated partners aim to instill curiosity in the space sciences.
Have further inquiries or need assistance? Reach out to us via the Contact page.
